RI Highways May Be Especially Congested This Thanksgiving: Here’s Why

Rhode Island residents traveling for Thanksgiving are expected to encounter record crowds on the highway this year as some travelers opted to drive instead of fly to their destinations this year, according to AAA estimates.

In its 2025 Thanksgiving travel forecast, the auto club projects 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving travel period that starts Tuesday and continues through Monday, Dec. 1.

The domestic travel forecast includes an additional 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record. Thanksgiving is the single-busiest holiday for travel, compared to others like Memorial Day and July 4.

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Most people will be traveling by car. AAA projects 73 million people, or nearly 90% of all holiday travelers, will be taking road trips. That’s about 1.3 million more people on the roads than last year, and the number could be higher if some air travelers decide to drive instead of fly due to lingering disruptions at airports from the government shutdown.

Approximately 6 million people, 2% fewer than last year, are planning to fly. Rhode Island residents who have booked Thanksgiving air travel should check for delays and cancellations with a tracking service such as FlightAware before leaving for the airport.

While flight reductions at high-traffic airports have been lifted with the reopening of the government, travelers may experience some lingering travel disruptions, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said.

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Rhode Island residents who are driving somewhere for Thanksgiving should anticipate heavy traffic on both Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the transportation data company INRIX. Travelers returning home on Sunday should expect heavy traffic most of the day.

If possible, Rhode Island residents should avoid Boston to Hyannis via Pilgrims Highway South during the peak congestion period around 11:45 a.m. Thursday.

Here are the worst and best times to travel during the seven-day holiday period:

• Tuesday: worst, 12-9 p.m.; best, before noon.
• Wednesday: worst 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; best, before 11 a.m.
• Thanksgiving Day: minimal traffic impact expected
• Friday: worst, 1-7 p.m.; best, before 11 a.m.
• Saturday: worst, 1-8 p.m.; best, before 10 a.m.
• Sunday: worst, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; best, before 11 a.m.
• Monday, Dec. 1: noon-8 p.m.; best, after 8 p.m.

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Travel delays should be expected in the top 10 Thanksgiving destinations, AAA said. They are Orlando, Florida; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Miami; Anaheim/Los Angeles; Tampa, Florida; New York City; San Francisco; Honolulu; Las Vegas; and Atlanta.

• Related: No ‘Disrespectful Dress,’ Other Things To Know About Thanksgiving Travel